The defendant was enrolled in the University of Houston Law Center. | File photo/The Cougar
A judge ruled on Monday that the UH cannot deny veterans’ tuition benefits to those who enlisted outside of Texas but currently reside within the state, as reported in the Houston Chronicle.
“Texas may not discriminate against its more recent residents in favor of more established residents simply to control costs,” U.S. District Judge Ewing Werlein Jr. wrote in his ruling.
The case against UH was brought by Keith Harris in May 2014. Harris enlisted in the Army in 1996 when he was 18 years old and a resident of Georgia. An honorably discharged veteran, Harris moved to Texas in 2004. He earned his B.A. at the University of Houston-Downtown, utilizing G.I. Bill benefits.
Harris enrolled in law school, but by that time, he had exhausted all of his VA education benefits. He attempted to apply for benefits under the Hazlewood Act, a state education benefit for veterans who enlisted in Texas, but he was denied.
As part of an agreement with UH, Harris is not being charged tuition and fees.
The UH System paid $9.9 million under Hazlewood in 2014, as reported in the Houston Chronicle.
I’m sorry but the Judge made a wrong ruling on this. Hazelwood is something for Texans that chose to serve in the military. It is not a veteran benefit, but a Texan benefit. That is why you had to have enlisted in Texas or had your home of record in Texas. Next people who are here for school are going to demand instate tuition. We need to break this entitled attitude that this generation seems to have about everything. if this ruling stands the Act will have to be discontinued due to the cost more than doubling, that would be unsustainable for the budget. Other states have educational benefits for Veterans, they should look at them in their home state
UH should take this to an Appeals Court. The judge definitely got it WRONG!
This was introduced as a TEXAS benefit….not if your from GEORGIA,NEW YORK,IOWA…As usual, all it takes is one individual to screw things up for the rest of us. Be proud of yourself keith…your a great role model. Is there anything else that you want for free that your not entitled to?